Shoe-lacing.



0. J. VALADE.

sum; moms.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21,1911. RENEWED DEC. [4. l9l8- 1,292,975. Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

.H.S. will DANIEL J. VALAIDE, 0F HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

SHOE-LACING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 28, '1919.

Application filed February 21, 1917, Serial No. 150,093. Renewed December 14, 1918. Serial No. 266,815.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. VALADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highland Park, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Lacing; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in lacing devices such as are employed upon shoes, gloves, and like article of apparel, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the two members can be quickly released or fastened together, thereby greatly facilitating the removal from or placing in position of any article of apparel in connection with which the lacing may be employed.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a lacing device which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which may have a pleasing and ornamental appearance, which can be quickly laced or unlaced without the use of a button-hook or any other form of tool, and which will be found especially useful in connection with high shoes, where the time consumed in lacing and unlacing is frequently considerable.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a lacing construction embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of one of the guide loops.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indi cated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 designate the two members of which the opposed edge portions are to be connected by means of the lacing device. These members may be of any suitable formation, being shown in the present instance as each comprising an outer thickness 1 of leather or the like, a fabric lining 1 and a longitudinal binding strip 1 applied to the inner face of the edge portion of the outer thickness. Applied to the edge portions of the members 1 at corresponding intervals are guide loops 2, said loops being formed from double thicknesses of material, the folded ends projecting slightly beyond the edges, while the ends thereof straddle the outer thicknesses 1 of the respective members and are firmly secured in position by the stitching 3. This stitching leaves the folded ends of the strips unobstructed and clearly defines the guide loops or channels through the same, and the inner ends of the guide loops are preferably carried under the binding strip 1 and lining 1" so as to avoid an irregular and uneven inner surface.

Flexible lacing cords 4 extend longitudinally along the edges of the members 1 and are threaded through the guide loops 2. Button-hole tabs 5 are slidably mounted upon the portions of the lacing cords 4 between the respective guide loops 3 and arranged to be carried across the dividing space between the members 1 and placed in engagement with buttons 6. These button-hole tabs may be conveniently formed by doubling a strip of material, the folded intermediate portion providing a guide loop or eye which slidably receives the lacing cord 4, while the ends are stitched together and provided with a button-hole 5*. It will be seen that the respective guide loops 2 and respective button-hole tabs 5 of the two members 1 have an opposed relation to each other, and they are given substantially the same configuration so that the entire arrangement presents a pleasing and harmonious appearance to the eye.

Eyelets 7 are provided in the members 1 at opposite ends of the series of guide loops 2 and button-hole tabs 5, the lacing cords 4: being anchored in one set of the eyelets 7 and passing slidably through the other eyelets, so that after being drawn tight, the free ends thereof can be fastened together with a conventional knot, as indicated at 8. In order to fasten the members 1 together, the button-hole tabs 5 of the respective members are drawn across the junction between the members and placed in engagement with the buttons 6 of the opposite members. The free ends of the lacing cords 4 are then drawn tight and secured in some suitable manner as by means of the knot 8. This is an operation which can be quickly performed without the use of a button-hook or other implement, and the edges of the two members 1 are then held closely together in a most satisfactory manner. In order to re lease the lacing the knot 8 is untied and the lacing cords loosened, after which the button-hole tabs 5 can be readily disengaged from the buttons 6. The members 1 can then be drawn apart and there are no cords or obstructions whatever between the same.

The embodiment of the invention shown by Fig. l is especially adapted for use upon ladies shoes, while the modification shown by Fig. 4 can be used upon mens shoes. In Fig. 4 the guide loops 10 are formed of metal, instead of from leather, as in the previous instance, the folded portions of the metal strips being in the form of narrow necks which are curved to prevent the presentation of sharp edges to the lacing cords, while the ends of the metal strips are flared and connected by the rivets or fastening members 11. Lacing hooks 12 are applied to the members 1 between the guide loops l0, and when lacing the shoe the portions of the lacing cords 4 between the guide loops 10 are crossed and placed in engagement with the respective lacing hooks 12, after which the lacing cords are drawn tight and the ends thereof secured by a knot 8. The operation of unlacing is just the reverse of that of lacing, and it will be obvious that both operations can be easily and quickly performed, and that when the shoe is unlaced there will be no obstructions whatever between the edges of the members 1.

Having thus described the invention, what ,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A. lacing device including opposed guide loops applied at corresponding intervals to the edges of the members to be connected and including doubled strips arranged with the looped ends thereof projecting beyond the edges, fastening members applied to the edges between the guide loops, flexible lacing cords extending longitudinally along the edges and threaded through the guide loops, and tabs having a construction similar to that of the guide loops and applied to the lacing cords between the guide loops, said tabs being formed of doubled strips having the looped ends thereof loosely receiving the lacing cords, while the opposite ends thereof are constructed for detachably engaging the fastening members.

2. A lacing device including opposed guide loops applied at corresponding intervals to the edges of the members to be connected and including doubled strips having the looped ends thereof projecting beyond the edges, buttons applied to the edges between the guide loops, flexible lacing cords extending longitudinally along the edges and threaded'through the guide loops, and tabs similar in construction and size to the guide loops, being formed of doubled strips of material and having the looped ends thereof loosely receiving the lacing cords, while the doubled ends thereof are stitched together and provided with button holes adapted to engage the before mentioned buttons.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL J. VALADE.

Witnesses PEARL GILBERT, KENT UNDnRwoon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatenta, Washington, D. U. 

